Washington, DC—The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today issued the following response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of a draft “endangerment finding” regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aircraft.

The global general aviation manufacturing industry represented by GAMA reiterates its commitment to the ongoing work at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop an aircraft emissions standard. The EPA’s draft finding is a required step in the U.S. rulemaking process under the Clean Air Act and sets the stage for the implementation in the U.S. of a CO2 standard for aircraft expected to be adopted by ICAO in 2016.

GAMA member companies continue to be instrumental in the technical work that began in 2010 at ICAO to develop a CO2 standard for aircraft. The global business aviation community has also pledged to do its part to address climate change by achieving a 2 percent improvement in fuel efficiency through 2020 and carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards, subject to infrastructure and technology advances by both industry and governments worldwide.

“Aviation is the most global of all industries, and it is important that aviation environmental standards be set by ICAO,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “The EPA’s draft finding recognizes this, and we agree with the agency’s commitment to the ICAO process to finalize a CO2 standard that is environmentally beneficial and that allows aviation to grow in a sustainable manner.”